English Language

Literary Analysis

4,216 Questions

Analyze classic and modernist novels, autobiographies, plays, and graphic novels across various genres. This topic tests your familiarity with prominent authors, literary movements, and thematic elements. Questions appear regularly in the English language sections of SSC, banking, and teaching competency exams.

Classic and modernist novelsAutobiographies and biographiesPoetic language and farcesThematic literary elements

Literary Analysis Questions

Multiple choice

Which Esperanto play is based on the novel The Great Gatsby?

  1. La Granda Gatsby

  2. La Unua Libro

  3. La Historio de Esperanto

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

La Granda Gatsby was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and was first performed in Esperanto in 2012.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a fictional world that has had a significant impact on popular culture?

  1. The world of Star Wars

  2. The world of Marvel Comics

  3. The world of Harry Potter

  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All of these fictional worlds have had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring countless works of art, music, and literature.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a fictional world that is inspired by the real world?

  1. The world of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist"

  2. The world of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"

  3. The world of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All of these fictional worlds are inspired by the real world, as they are set in real places and time periods and deal with real-world issues.

Multiple choice

What is the mood of the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

  1. Joyful

  2. Hopeful

  3. Ominous

  4. Peaceful

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The story is set in a small town where the annual lottery is held. The mood of the story is ominous because the reader knows that someone is going to be chosen to be stoned to death.

Multiple choice

What is the mood of the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

  1. Joyful

  2. Hopeful

  3. Romantic

  4. Nostalgic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a young couple who are struggling to make ends meet. They both want to buy each other Christmas presents, but they don't have any money. The mood of the story is romantic because the couple's love for each other is evident.

Multiple choice

What is the tone of the short story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant?

  1. Humorous

  2. Sarcastic

  3. Tragic

  4. Ironic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a woman who borrows a necklace from a friend to wear to a party. She loses the necklace, and she and her husband have to work for years to pay for a replacement. The tone of the story is ironic because the woman ends up losing more than she gained by borrowing the necklace.

Multiple choice

What is the mood of the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman?

  1. Joyful

  2. Hopeful

  3. Ominous

  4. Depressing

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a woman who is suffering from postpartum depression. She is confined to her room by her husband, and she begins to see strange things in the wallpaper. The mood of the story is depressing because the woman's mental state is deteriorating.

Multiple choice

What is the tone of the short story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin?

  1. Joyful

  2. Hopeful

  3. Romantic

  4. Tragic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a woman who learns that her husband has died. She is initially grief-stricken, but she then begins to feel a sense of freedom. The tone of the story is tragic because the woman's happiness is short-lived.

Multiple choice

What is the tone of the short story "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway?

  1. Humorous

  2. Sarcastic

  3. Tragic

  4. Ironic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a man and a woman who are discussing the woman's pregnancy. The man wants her to have an abortion, but she is hesitant. The tone of the story is ironic because the man and the woman are talking about something that is very serious, but they are doing it in a very casual way.

Multiple choice

What is the mood of the short story "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield?

  1. Joyful

  2. Hopeful

  3. Nostalgic

  4. Bittersweet

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a young woman who is attending a garden party. She is initially excited about the party, but she then begins to feel disillusioned. The mood of the story is bittersweet because the woman is both happy and sad. She is happy to be at the party, but she is also aware that it is a superficial event.

Multiple choice

What is the tone of the short story "The Night Oak Street Burned Down" by Thomas Wolfe?

  1. Humorous

  2. Sarcastic

  3. Tragic

  4. Nostalgic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a young boy who witnesses a fire that destroys his neighborhood. The tone of the story is nostalgic because the boy is remembering a time when he was happy and carefree.

Multiple choice

What is the tone of the short story "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien?

  1. Humorous

  2. Sarcastic

  3. Tragic

  4. Ironic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a group of soldiers who are fighting in the Vietnam War. The tone of the story is ironic because the soldiers are fighting for a cause that they don't believe in.

Multiple choice

What is the mood of the short story "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan?

  1. Joyful

  2. Hopeful

  3. Nostalgic

  4. Bittersweet

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a group of Chinese women who meet regularly to play mahjong and tell stories. The mood of the story is bittersweet because the women are both happy and sad. They are happy to be together, but they are also aware that their lives are changing.

Multiple choice

What is the tone of the short story "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros?

  1. Humorous

  2. Sarcastic

  3. Tragic

  4. Nostalgic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The story is about a young Latina girl who is growing up in a poor neighborhood. The tone of the story is nostalgic because the girl is remembering a time when she was happy and carefree.

Multiple choice

Which biography by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins chronicles the life of Mother Teresa?

  1. Something Beautiful for God

  2. City of Joy

  3. Freedom at Midnight

  4. The White Tiger

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins' biography, "Something Beautiful for God," tells the inspiring story of Mother Teresa's life and her tireless work with the poor and destitute.